by George Howard Earle, Jr.

“ The public have an interest in every one carrying on his trade freely; so has the individual. All interference with individual liberty of action in trading, and all restraints of trade, of themselves, if there is nothing more, are contrary to public policy and therefore void. ”

“ Just as it is believed that "tendency" is the paramount consideration in cases of restraint, and is limited and defined by the doctrine of "indirectness," so I believe that the basis of our civilization, law, and religion is "coöperation." Though constituting the greatest source of human power for either good or evil, coöperation in turn is limited and defined by the doctrine of competition, that it may accomplish legitimate purposes only. ”

“ A mere look at the statute books, at the decisions of the courts, at the public press, at political conventions, or any other declarations of public opinion in the last few years, must convince any one that this is not the time to relax the safeguards thrown around society by the presumption of illegality in the absence of adequate explanation, where power and interest so unite that the public may be made to contribute enormous sums to those accomplishing such union. ”

“ That which raises us from the savage state cannot wholly be condemned; even though men are still so selfish as to necessitate the enforcement of police protection against the results of their cupidity. ”

“ The provision of the statute against contracts in restraint of trade * * * does not require that all existing competitions shall be maintained. * * * The act of Congress will not be construed to mean the universal disintegration of society into single men, each at war with all the rest, or even the prevention of all further combinations for a common end. ”